CoAcH

Every girl has something in their life that makes them feel special, whether it be as commercial as make up, shoes, purses, jewelry, or something memorable like a family heirloom. Growing up in a household of six, money was somewhat tight. My sisters and I grew up knowing that there were certain things that we would not even consider asking our parents for, but that did not keep us from looking at those things. For me, Coach purses have always been one of those things. Although they can be quite pricey, I have always thought that they are very fashionable. I also loved the fact that they are covered in the letter “C,” which as a child I was intrigued by since my name also starts with the letter “C.”

It was not until my high school graduation that I received my first Coach purse from my aunt in my favorite color, blue. I can remember opening up the gift bag and seeing the word “Coach” across the box. I was ecstatic, even though I am not the materialistic type. Inside every coach product comes a little booklet that gives a description and history of Coach. After reading this booklet, I began to like Coach even more. The Coach Company began with a small family business. The purses created were modeled after the leather that was used on baseball gloves. The gloves became softer and softer with every catch, which was the beginning of a whole line of designer handbags. It is somewhat ironic that out of a man-dominated sport came an idea for purses for women that have made over millions and millions of dollars.

The design of Coach handbags has remained almost the same since the first bags were created. Coach is known for their durability and practicality. The design acknowledges the functional purpose of the purse while allowing a woman to feel lady-like and classy. Coach purses usually have many pockets and compartments inside of the bag in order to make organization much easier. As the company grew, so did the variations of handbags. However, Coach made sure it continued to create bags that were functional and elegant. They also continued the use of the soft leather they used from the idea of baseball gloves. The fabric and design on Coach purses is also unmistakable. The simple design of repetition of the letter "C" is a signature of Coach. It is the simplicity that makes the designs of Coach so distinguishable.

There are three types of Coach bags: in the hand, over the shoulder, and across the body. In the hand consists of clutches and such that are “grab and go” type purses. They are small, yet serve their purpose. Over the shoulder is the more common type of purse for everyday purposes. These include the hobo bag, crescent bag, as well as the basic purse types. Most of the over the shoulder purses include a great deal of extra room for a woman to carry around all her basic needs. A benefit of the over the shoulder bag is that it can be used for everyday or it can be used for special occasions depending on what a person is looking for out of the bag. Lastly is the across the body bag. This is a smaller purse with a long strap to sit on the shoulder, go across the body, and hang the purse on the opposite hip. This design includes many pockets that are great for putting cell phones, keys, or wallets into. Although it is not as large as the over the shoulder, it still has a very functional purpose to it.

Overall, I believe that Coach purses provide a functional, yet elegant design to the purse world that sometimes is forgotten. A purse is an accessory that can complete and outfit. Although many women will settle for a plain, simple bag that they use every single day without a care, it is nice once in a while to have the option of having a classier, more sophisticated looking bag. I am guilty of just grabbing a purse and going, but every so often I like to use my Coach purse to spruce up my outfit. I love the fact that the design of Coach purses incorporate functionality and sophistication. Although there can be a large price tag on some Coach purses, in the end it seems worth it.